(9 P.M. - Lauren's townhouse.)

"How was your day?" Robbie asked as he put lasagna on two plates.

"It was funny. This really weird guy came in the store, and I let him steal books. He was funny, though. He kept asking if we had Winnie the Pooh or cook and art books. I was like... No, sir. No, sir." She laughed, and smiled at Robbie as he handed her a plate laden with a huge chunk of lasagna.

They were eating at the breakfast table in the nook, which was her favorite place in the house. It had two wide windows, and in between then a vintage mounted painting of Marilyn Monroe. The walls were painted a soft crème beige, and the table was made of oak and covered with an intricate purple table cloth that matched the padding of the high-backed chairs. In the middle of the table was a crystal vase filled with white roses.

Sighing, Robbie and Lauren both leaned back, and enjoyed the room. The curtains were pulled back from the windows, and the city lights were twinkling. Lauren had come to know Robbie through Felice. Felice Bennett had moved to Sacramento from Louisiana with Lauren four years ago. She had met Aiden in college, and he introduced Robbie to Lauren. Later, he moved in, although it was against her parents' wishes for two reasons: #1 He was male and #2 He was male and gay. Her mother said it was unsuitable for a lady. But that was one act of defiance Lauren was more than glad she had done. "And actually..." She said out of nowhere, the fork stopping half way to her mouth. "This gorgeous hunk of a man came in today. He was looking for Italy and France books for his friend's girlfriend."

Robbie's eyes rose in interest. "Really now? What was his name?"

"I have no idea."

Robbie laughed, "Honey, that's the first thing you find out if you think he's gorgeous. THEN, you find out if he's single. If he is, then you zone in on him. Unless, of course, you know he would be more into my type or something..."

Lauren laughed aloud. "No, I'm pretty sure he was straight. But it was just interesting having someone so... wow-looking come in. I mean, guys that do usually are attached."

"Well, you did number two right."

Lauren laughed and took a bite of lasagna. "Thanks. Now how was your day?"

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(1 A.M. Zeek's Apartment.)

Mandy Fischer sat on the couch and watched her boyfriend's band play. She smiled, loving every minute of it. Zeek was something her parents had had to grow used to - with his short, spiked forest green and black hair and tattooed arms, which he usually hid under one of the very few button down shirts he had that he wore around her parents. He was wearing baggy black Dickie's, which he had cut off right below the knee and were now ragged and a short sleeve gray shirt that had a one small word in the middle of the chest: Anti.

How Mandy loved him. Smiling even wider, she watched as the band played. She watched Trent, who was wearing a black wifebeater and wearing loose jeans with his boxers sticking out and Vans, sing out a song they called Sour Times. His voice was mind-numbing and beautiful, something you didn't hear every day. Trent was a special guy, but there was something off about him. And there were scars she could see on his arms and on the skin that wasn't covered by the shirt that made her want to ask questions but stay away at the same time. But she never did.

At the end of their song, Mandy got up and walked over to kiss Zeek. "Baby, I'm gonna go lay down, okay?"

Zeek kissed her again. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just tired. You guys sound wonderful." She told them. "I can't wait for Friday's show."

Zeek kissed her neck while she talked to the guys. "Yeah, it's gonna be pretty cool. It's supposed to be a full house, that's what Jack says." Jon said. Jack was the owner of Chester's, the restaurant/bar where they would be playing.

Kissing Zeek one more time before going down the hall, she smiled at the four of them. Zeek watched Mandy, who was wearing a striped turtle neck and khaki skirt, walk down the hall. All the guys looked at him and grinned.

"She thinks she's pregnant, you guys." Zeek suddenly burst out when his bedroom door closed.

The grins wilted a little. "Uh oh." They said.

"Yeah, I'm like freaking out. I mean, her parents are like rich snobs and stuff. But I can support the baby, if there is one. I'm almost the manager of the record store now. And this isn't exactly the wrong part of town." Zeek spoke wildly, usually about anything on him mind. Half the time you couldn't say anything if you wanted to keep up with his train of thought. Plus, he added so many words in there it was hard to keep you anyway!

Trent looked around at the apartment. It had two bedrooms and a kitchen with a large dining room, and two bathrooms. They were standing in the middle of the living room, which had wood floors covered with a rug Mandy had bought, and a leather sofa Mandy had insisted she wanted in here. Actually, Mandy had designed the whole living room, Trent realized. There was a mounted painting of little squares above the sofa, an armoire in the corner that Zeek had put the TV in, and shelves with vases and beautiful knicknacks on them. There were also pillows... everywhere.

"This isn't a bad apartment either." Trent said in his smooth, low voice. He was tired, but he was excited. Both about the show and now that Zeek might actually be settling down now. Zeek was making something out of himself and Mandy was a really great girl.

"Yeah, this is great."

"Are you going to marry her, though?" Shane asked.

Zeeks eyes widened for a moment, and he scratched at his whiskered jaw for a moment. "Well. Sure, yeah. That'd be cool."

Shane laughed. "Well, if there's a baby, we're all here for it."

Jon nodded, "Yeah, man. Now, come on, let's play something."

As Trent began to sing and play, a sort of envy rolled through his body. An emotion he rarely felt, not that he ever really felt anything anyway. But he realized how lucky Zeek was; and he was really proud of Zeek, and happy for him. Trent only wished he could have something, too. Something to hold onto.

He just wished he knew how much longer he would have to wait.

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